And We've Got lift-off

Day one:

Gray.

Driving through the maritime villages along the Chesapeake Bay all I seem to be seeing is gray. A thick cloud of fog is looming around our car. The sea is angry. The neighborhoods that would be bustling with activity are empty.

For ten hours my fate is to be confined in the back seat with two teenage boys. The thing about teenage boys is, they really do think they need at least a yard from one knee to the next. Maybe it's a delusion of grandeur and size, maybe they do need the room but what I know for certain is I'm squished against the door. Tucking and rolling has crossed my mind. I do have a good thumb for hitchhiking.

The conversation is limited due to the advent of technology. The handheld devices are abundant but the amount of personal space is minimal. My body feels like it's been crumpled into a ball, used to play tennis and then suddenly captured by a ravenous dog who plans to rip my tennis ball body to shreds and then spits me out. It is a feeling only China Eastern Air could rival, but at least they gave us travel totes.

In traditional Wizard of Oz fashion, the sky above us changed from a dark and solemn gray to a beautiful warm and friendly blue almost instantaneously as we crossed the Virginia border. My old friend the sun, whom I haven't seen in weeks, made a friendly visit. The soulful sounds of Nina Simone belting '' here come the sun, little darling'' instantly pop into my cluttered head. Just then, I realized maybe it won't be such a bad week after all.

That day's inspirations: Lack of Starbucks, Doves- N.Y. and Words.